Centrifugal liquid-separator



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(No Model.)

o. A. BAGKSTROM.

GBNTRIFUGAL LIQUID SEPARATOR.

Patented Aug. 9, 1887,

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(No Model.) l a sheetssheet 2. C. A. BACKSTROM. GENTRIPUGAL LIQUID SEPARATUR.

vPatented Aug. 9, 1887.

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(No Model.) s sheets-sheet 8.,

C. A. BACKSTRQM.. CENTYRIFUGAL LIQUID SEPARATOR.

No. 868,048 l Patented Aug. 8, 1887.

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C. AXEL BACKSTROM, OF` TRENTON, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO THE BACK- SN'IROM CENTRIFUGAL' SEPARATOR COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.V

CENTRIFU'GAL LIQUID-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part orf Letters Patent No. 368,048, dated August 9, 1887.

Application filed February 2S, 1887. Serial No. 229,219. (No modela To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, C. AXEL BACKSTROM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer, State of New Jer- 5 sey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Liquid-separators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

r() This invention has relation to centrifugal liquid-separators; and the particular objects in view are to determine the quality, quantity, and character of a separated constituent While the machine is inoperation, to provide means for conducting and controlling the discharge of separated constituents while the machine is in operation, and to provide means, accessible outside ofthe machine, for controlling the supply of the liquid to be separated and thel discharge of the separated constituents thereof from the machine, whereby the character of the constituents in regard to the completeness of their separation from each other may be Y varied at will.

My invention is capable of use in connection with separating-machines which embody the principle of centrifugal force generated in the liquid to be separated while in a revolving separating-bowl, and may be employed for the separation of any liquid or similar material made up of constituents having different specific gravities; but for the purpose of illustrating the construction and mode of operation of my invention, I hereinafter describe the same as applied for the purpose of separating'cream from milk. l

I have discovered that by controlling the delivery from the separating-bowl of the constituents after they have been separated from each 4o other I can determine the character or. quality of one of the two constituents or one or more of the several. constituents of the liquid being separated. For example, by conducting each separated constituent from the portion of the bowl where it naturally collects (when separated by the operation of the machine) out of the bowl, andby controlling the delivery of each of said constituents from the conductor employed, I can control the quality of one of 5o said constituents, supposing,for example,there be but two constituents of the liquid being separated; For example, while the machine is in operation-and the milk and cream are separated from each other, I can control the delivery of the lighter constituent-the crearne-and of the heavier constituent-the milk-in such a manner that the quality of the cream shall be thick, rich, and containing an absolute minimum of milk, or, at will, the cream discharged may be caused to be lighter, thinner, and containing a larger percentage of milk. It is apparent that the quality of the heavier constituent may be in like manner controlled.

One important feature of construction which may be employed in an embodiment ofv or in connection with my means for controlling the delivery of separated constituents is that which involves such a construction of a bowl as to collect therein the heavier constituent above the lighter, in order that in case any of the heavier constituent should be sprayed, spattered, or dislodged during the gathering thereof for delivery from the bowl, said heavier constituent will naturally fall into the compartment-below, in which the lighter constituent is collected, so that by the action of centrifugal forcesaid heavierconstituent will again be immediately separated from the lighter and the quality of the latter will remain uuimpaired. It will be seen that if the posi- 8o tions within the bowl of the constituents is reversed an opposite effect will be produced as regards the qualityof the lighter constituent-that is to say, if, for example, the skimmed milk is collected within the bowl in 85 a portion thereof below that portion where the cream is collected, any cream in the upper portion whichmight be sprayed or dislodged would fall into the lower portion and be either retained therein or in a measure diffused through the body of skimmed milk therein, and the quality of the cream being delivered would be in a like measure deteriorated.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in. the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure lis a substantially central vertical section of a separoo rating-bowl, a portion of the frame-work, and the supply and delivery devices, all constructed in accordance with and adapted to operate upon the principle involved in my invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of a portion of the framework. Fig. 3 is a plan of the principal parts illustratedin Fig. l. Fig. 4 isasection onthe line X of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a. substantially central vertical section of a modified arrangement of the bowl and its supply and delivery devices. Fig. G is a substantially central vertical section of the receiving-bowl employed in the modification illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan of the receiving-bowl.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

A represents the separating-bowl, which is provided with a series of blades, one, A', of which is imperforate, and cach of the others, A?, of which are provided with ports A, arranged alternately at the upper and lower outer corners of said blades, the latter extending from the top to the bottom and against the inner surface of the vertical wall of the bowl. A supply-chambcr, A, is provided, and from said chamber there extends a supply-pipe, A, in a direction toward the vertical wall of the bowl. rlhe supply-pipe Ais arranged at one side of the imperforate blade, and at the opposite side of said blade is arranged a deliverypipe, A, which extends from near the vertical wall to an annular chamber, A7, for the purpose of conducting thereto one of the separated constituents. The bowl A is y mounted in any suitable manner upon a spindle, B, having suitable bearings on a frame-work, B.

In Fig. 1I have illustrated a bowl having the supply-chamber A" within and at the bottom of the same and the annular receivingchamber for a separated constituent at the top of the bowl, which is open.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the bowl iuverted-that is to say, the supplychamber A4 is at the top of the bowl and the annular reeeiving-chamber is at the bottom of the bowl which has an opening therein.

C represents a supply-pipe which delivers liquid into the supply-chamber A of the bowl, and is provided with a controlling valve or cock, D. This pipe communicates with any suitable tank or reservoir for the liquid to be separated, and may or may not have communieation with an automatic supplycontrolling valve, D', and a chamber, .D`-, for thc same. No claim is made herein for said automatic supply-controlling device, as it forms the subject-matter of a companion application, Serial No. 226,709, pending herewith.

In an arrangement of the elements illustrated in Fig. l the frame-work B' embodies an arch or curved arm, B2, )ivoted, as at B3, within a slot, B, formed on the frame-work and retained in an operative position by means of a pin, B, passing through the arm or the walls ofthe frame-work at each side thereof. rlhe flanges B" of the arm Il2 are inclined, and have a bearing upon the inclined upper ends of the part B', so that when swung into operative position the arm B2 is automatically stopped and supported, while the pin Bf retains the parts in operative position. The supply-pipe is supported in or attached to the arm B, so as to project toward and directly over the supply-chamber A".

E represents my delivery-conductor, 'and in Fig. l. it is represented as supported within and by the arm B" of the frame-work.

In Fig. the stud or delivery-conductor is capable of heilig rotated bodily in the bearing in the arm Bz to bring the projections out of' the compartments of the bowl, and in the remaining figures the conductor is capable of being rotated on its bcaringon the frame; but in all cases the conductor is fixed with relation to the rotations of the bowl, and therefore I designate the conductor as being relatively fixed. It consists of a stationary stud bored or otherwise provided with two conductingpassages, F G, one of which extends to a greaterl distance than the other, and each of which communicates with a lateral conduit or passage, F' G', respectively. The lateral passages project beyond the stud, or, in other words, pass through projections, lugs, or bosses E', formed on a side of the stud E, and communicate with the compartments of the bowl, wherein are collected during the operation of the bowl the separated constituents. At the ends of the passages F and G opposite to those which communicate with the lateral passages F G other lateral passages, F i G2, communicate with delivery-pipes Fx G3, each of which is provided with a controlling valve or cock, Iii I, respectively. By this construction I have a continuous conducting-passage extending from the.portions of the bowl in which during ils operation the separated constituents are collected to a point outside ofthe bowl, which conducting-passages are fixed with relation to the bowl, which is movable or rotative.

In the construction just described it will be apparent that by removing the pin B5, and swinging the arch or arm BL upon its pivot, the conducting-stud and the supply-pipe may be swung upwardly and outwardly away from the bowl, thus giving access to the latter for cleaning purposes.

For convenience in cleaning the conductingpassages, an end or the ends thereof are provided with serew-threaded plugs, as clearly shown, whereby said plugs may be removed, and any suitable implementmaybe passed i nto or through the passages for that purpose. rlhe delivery-pipes communicating with said passages may be made removable in any suitable manner for the same purpose. In Fig. 5 the bowl is, as heretofore stated, inverted. In this arrangement ofthe bowl I provide, in conncetion with my delivery-conductors for the separated constituents, a pan or bowl,.I,at one edge of which is provided a bearing, B321, for an arch or curved arm, BW, which serves to support the supply-pipe C, the connection being such that by loosening the thumb-nut BW" IOO IIO

said arm may be swung pivotall y on the bearing awayfrom over the bowl to permit the removal of the latter from the machine for cleaning purposes. The stud EX in Figs. 5, 6,'and 7 is a part of the pan J, and hasequivalent passages and ports to those in the stud E-and operates on the same principle, but conducts the separated constituents downward instead of upward. -f v When stopping the bowl, the liquid therein will by gravity naturally flowv therefrom through the opening in the bottom and out ot the annular chamber A7, so that the provision of the pan J is necessary to receive said liquid; otherwise the delivery devices are the same in principle and mode of operation as hereinbefore described in connection with Fig. l, eX'

cept that in Fig. 5 I have illustrated the moreA usualdispositi'on of the separated constituents, in thatthe lighter is collected within the bowl at a point above that at which the heavier constituent is collected.

By reference to Figs. 5, 6, and 7 it will he .seen that' the pan J terminates below in a angc,J, which is adapted to fit the upper end of the standard or main portion of the framework B. A central opening is formed in the pan bounded by the vertical wall in which the passages F G are formed, and said opening is partially covered by a plate, J2, in which is an aperture, J", provided for the passage of the spindle B, upon which the bowl A is mounted.

The object of the inclined plate is to direct the liquid which flows from the bowl when the same is stopped into the pan J. The opening J3 is just large-enough to permit of the limited vibration of the spindle,and the plate J 2 practically prevents the liquid from flowing to the spindle supports or bearings.

The operation, having reference -to both forms illustrated, is as follows: Milk being supplied through the pipe C, the supply being controlled by the valve or cock D, passes into the receiving-chamber A4, and from thence by the pipe A5 into the bowl, where it is preperforate blade A and takes an opposite direction, passing through' the various altermately-arranged ports mentioned, and finally reaches the opposite side of the imperforate blade, and from thence passes through the pipe A into the chamber A7. `Now, having reference, as before,to both constructions, both constituents, being separated from each other, are subjected to the action of the projections E of the iXed delivery devices E EX, whereby a comparatively minute portion of each constituent is peeled oft' from the annular body of the same, which is within the revolving bowl, and said portion removed is directed into the conducting-passages and through the deliverypipes communicating therewith, and by means of the valves or cocks H and-I either or both of the constituents may be controlled in its or their passage from the machine. Now, it is apparent thatif what may be termed a greater than a normal quantity be allowed to flow through the cream-conductors and deliverypassages the cream will contain a greater percentage of skimmed milk than when only the normal or a less quantity is allowed to pass' therethrough. A simultaneous and partial shutting off or a limitation of the delivery of the skimmed milk from the bowl facilitates an increase of the percentage of the skimmed milk in the cream. Such a control ofthe delivery of the specified constituents is secured by a simple and proper relative manipulation ot' the cocks or valves H and I, respectively. On the other hand, a comparatively free delivery of skimmed milk through the milk-delivering devices and a comparatively reduced How of cream through the cream-delivering devices enhance the richness of the cream,

It will be noticed that there is no break or interruption in the conduction of either constituent from the time of its-entrance into the delivering devices to the time of its discharge therefrom, but that the conduction and delivery is continuous and continuously under control, and extends from the points within the bowl where each constituent is naturally collected by the operation of the bowl to the point in each separate delivering-conductor at which the controlling-valve is located. In this respect my construction differs essentially from a mere provision of controlling-valves upon or in the delivery spout or spouts of an ordinary receiving-bowl arranged adjacent to the separating-bowl of a centrifugal machine.

A particular subsidiary benefit hereinbefore referred to of determining the position withinthe bowl of the heavier liquid, so that it shall occupy a plane above the lighter, can perhaps be made more clear by a particular reference to Fig. 1, by which the heavier liquid-the skimmed milk--is conducted by the pipe A into the upper annular chamber, A7, of the bowl. Now, if during the operation of the machine, and in the act of peeling off a minute stream of the skimmed milk by the projection E, (through which is formed the lateral conducting-passage G,) drops or particles of the skimmed milk are sprayed, spattered, or thrown down into the lower compartment or the main body of the bowl, said particles or portions of the heavier liquid will, by the centrifugal force generated, be caused to pass immediately through the annular body of cream, which naturally collects inside of the heavier liquid within said portion of the bowl. Said portions are thus prevented from deteriorating the quality of the cream, whereas in the construction shown in Fig. 5, if portions of the cream are directed, in the manner above indicated, downwardly into the chamber A7, they, being of lighter specific gravity, remain mixed with or held at the interior annular portion of the skimmed milk in the lower annular chamber, A7, and therefore, so far as the quality of the cream delivered from the machine is concerned, are lost.

Of course it is understood that in controlling-the product it is also quite essential to IIO control the supply. Therefore I have provided not only the delivering devices, but also the snpply-pipe, with a controlling cock or valve.

Certain features herein shown are not claimed, as they form subjects-matter of companion applications pending herewith.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim isl. In a centrifugal machine, and in combination with the frame-work and bowl thereof, the relativelyiixed stud bored to form two separate delivery-conductors extending continuously from points within the machine which are in different planes and each connecting with a pipe having a controlling valve or cock accessible at the outside of the niaehine, substantially as specified.

2. In a centrifugal machine, the combination, with thc frame-work, of a bowl having two separate compartments arranged at different planes, a pipe leading from the wall of one compartment to near the wall of the other, and a relatively-fixed stud bored to form delivery-conductors extending from said compartments of the bowl to a point outside thereof and connecting with pipes provided with independent controlling valves or cocks, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the separating bowl having a series of blades, one ol' which is imperferate and the others provided with ports and havingr a suppy-pipe and a discharge-pipe arranged at opposite sides of the imperforate blade, of a relativelydixed stud bored to forni discharge-conductors extending from the interior of the bowl to a point with out the saine and connecting with pipes provided with diseharge-controlling devices, sub1 stantiall y as specified.

4. A delivery-conductor for a centrifugal machine, consisting of a relatively-fixed stud or standard, E, having the two passages F G formed therein, and having lateral projections which are in different planes and provided with lateral passages connnnnieating with the main passages of the stud or standard, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

C. AXEL BAGKSTROM.

Witnesses E. B. Sroeiinve, P. F. MoRsELL. 

